Automobile warning device.



a, ZABEL, AUTQMOBILE WARNING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. I916.

gga mg PatentedAuga 14,1917

Q A W PATENT OFFICE.

BRUNO ZABEL, OF EDGEWOOD BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE WARNING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Application fi led September 5, 1916. Serial No. 118,325.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRUNO ZABEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at 17. Lloyd street, Edgewood Borough, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Warning Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automobiles and other vehicles, and particularly to means for detecting the use thereof or tampering therewith by unauthorized persons.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view partly diagrammatic showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line HII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the parts here shown are all mounted on an automobile, one of the rear wheels ofwhich is designated by the reference character 15. This wheel is connected by means of the usual difierential device 16 with a drive shaft 12 the other end of which is connected with the usual propelling device such as a gasolene engine or electric motor (not shown). -F1xed to th1s shaft 12 are two cams 11 and 11*, shown also in Fig. 2, the function of which will appear hereinafter.

Mounted directly over the cams 11 and 11- is a box 3 in the upper portion of which are mounted two flexible contact fingers 4 and 4*, each of which when pushed upwardly is arranged to engage with a fixed contact plate 24. These two contact fingers are operated respectively by two tappets 5 and 5 each of which is mounted in the box 3 and arranged for vertical movement. These tappets are both biased to their lowest position, that is, the positions in which they are shown in the drawing, by springs 25. Each tappet extends downwardly through the bottom wall of the box and is arranged to coact with one of the cams 11 or 11. As shown in Fig. 2 the swell of'cam 11 and the swell of cam 11 are diametrically opposite each other, so that as the shaft 12 rotates tappets 5 and 5 are alternately raised and lowered;

that is, when tappet 5 is in its highest posit1on tappet 5 is in its lowest position. The movement of each tappet by its correspondlng cam is such as to move the corresponding contact finger 4 or 4 into and out of engagement with the contact plate 24.

The reference character 10 designates the usual brake controlling lever pivotally mounted at 10 in the chassis of the automobile and operatively connected with the usual brake band (not shown) through the medium of a link 9 and a rocker 8. The lever 10 is provided with a dog 17, which is controlled by a latch 17*, and which dog coacts With a fixed segment 18 in the usual and well known manner. When the lever 10 is in the position in which it is shown in the drawing, the brake is partially applied; to release the brake the lever is swung to the left and to apply the brake more forcibly the lever is swung to the right from the position shown. ()peratively connected with the rocker 8 is a plate 7 having therein two slots 14 and 1 1*, through which the tappets 5 and 5 pass freely. Pivotally mounted in a recess in tappet 5 is a 'pawl 6 which is biased by a spring 26 to the position in which it is shown; and similarly mounted in the tappet 5 is a pawl 6 biased by a spring 26 So long as plate 7 is in the position shown or is moved farther to the right these pawls 6 and 6 are free to rise and fall vertically with their respective tappets, but when the plate 7 is moved to the left by swinging lever 10 to release the brake, each pawl 6 afid G is caught by the plate 7 when the pawls are elevated and these pawls with their tappets are, therefore, held in their elevated positions, that is, in such positions that contact fingers 4c and 4 are both in engagement with plate 24-.

Located at a suitable point on the automobile is a warning signal 13 which, as here shown, is in the form of an electric bell. This bell is controlled by contact fingers d and 4t, and also by contact 2 comprising a movable contact finger 2 adapted to engage with a fixed contact 2. This contact 2 is operated by a locking device 1, which device is preferably of the type requiring the coaction of a removable key. The contact 2 is biased by a spring 27 to engage with contact 2 but may be separated from the latter contact by the locking device 1 that is, when contact 2 is closed it may be opened only by the insertion of the proper key in locking device 1. The circuit for bell 13 is from battery 19, through wire 20, bell 13, wire 21, contact 2, wire 22, contact finger 4, plate 24, contact linger 4, wire 23 to battery 19. It will be seen, therefore, that the bell is operated to give a warning signal when contact 2 is closed and contact fingers 4 and 4 are both in engagement with plate 24.

The operation of the apparatus is'as follows: While the automobile is running, contact 2 is held open by the locking device 1, and the brake being released both contact fingers 4 and 4 are held in engagement with plate 24 by plate 7 the bell is, therefore, silent. When the automobile is brought to a stop thebrakelever is first moved to such position as to apply the brake thereby releasing both pawls 6 and 6 so that at least one contact finger 4 or 4 drops away from plate 24. The locking device 1 is then operated to close contact 2 and the key is removed. If, now, an unauthorized person attempts to start the automobile, the brake lever 10 is first operated to release the brake, thereby sliding plate 7 to the left into the path of dogs 6 and 6*. When then the automobile is started cams 11 and 11 will raise both tappets 5 and 5- (or only one if the other is already elevated), so that both contact fingers 4 and 4* will be moved into engagement with plate 24; downw,ard movement of these tappets is then prevented by the engagement of pawls 6 and 6 with the plate 7, so that both contact'fingers remain closed. The circuit for bell 13 is then closed so that the bell operates as a warning signal, calling attention to persons in the vicinity that the automobile is being started by an unauthorized person. If the lever 10 is swung to reapply the brake the automobile is, of course, brought to a stop and pawls 6 and 6 are released, so that the operation of the warning signal ceases,

It will be seen from the foregoing that the operation of the automobile by an unauthorized person gives a warning which calls attention to such unauthorized action, but the operating and controlling parts are not alfected; in case of lire or other emergency, therefore, the automobile may be moved out of danger, although the warning signal operates during such movement.

It will,-of course, be understood that the parts of contact 2 are inclosed so that they cannot be tampered with.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Warning apparatus for automobiles,

comprising a warning signal, a circuit for said slgnal including source of current and two circuit controllers a brake device 7 for the automobile, means controlled jointly by the running gear of the automobile and by said brake device for closing one of said circuit controllers when the brake is released and the automobile is in motion, and lock controlled means for opening the other circuit controller to prevent operation of the signal. 7

2. Warning apparatus for automobiles comprising two contacts, means operated by the running gear of the automobile for closing said contacts alternately, a third contact, means for locking said third contact in the closed position, a warning signal, a circuit therefor controlled by said three contacts in series, a brake device for the automobile, and means controlled by said brake device when in the released position for latching said first two contacts in the closed position when they have been closed by the running gear.

3. Warning apparatus for automobiles, comprising two contacts, a rotating member operatively connected-with the running gear of the automobile, two cams fixed to said member each for controlling one of said contacts, the swells of said cams being angularly displaced sothat only one of sald contacts is closed at a time by the cams alone, means for latching each of said contacts in the closed position, and a warning signal controlled in part by said contacts.

4. Warning apparatus for automobiles, comprising two contacts, a rotating member operatively connected with the running gear of the automobile, two cams fixed to said member each for controlling one of said 1 5 contacts, the swells of said cams being angularly displaced so that only one of said contacts is closed at a time by the cams alone, a brake device for the automobile, means controlled by said brake device when in released position for latching each of said. contacts in the closed position, and a warning signal controlled in part by said contacts.

5. Warning apparatus for automobiles, comprising two contacts, two actuating tappets one for-each contact, means for blasing each tappet to such position that the corresponding contact is open, a rotating member operatively connected with the running gear of the automobile, two cams fixed to said member one for actuating each tappet to close the corresponding contact, the swells of said cams being angularly displaced so that only one of said contacts is closed at a time by the action of said cams alone, two pawls one pivotally attached to each tappet,

a plate mounted to slide transversely with respect to said tappets andadapted when in one position to engage said pawls to'latch said contacts in closed position, and a warning signal controlled 1n part by said contacts.

6. Warning apparatus for automobiles, comprising two contacts, means operated by the running gear of the automobile for closing said contacts alternately, means for latching said contacts in the closed position, and a warning signal controlled in part by said contacts.

7. Warning apparatus for automobiles, comprising two contacts, means operated by the running gear of the automobile for closing said contacts alternately, means for latching said contacts in the closed position, a warning signal controlled by said contacts, and lock controlled means for rendering said signal inoperative when said contacts are closed.

8. Warning apparatus for automobiles, comprising two contacts, means operated by the running gear of the automobile for closing said contacts alternately, a brake device for the automobile, means controlled by said brake device when in released position for latching said contacts in the closed position, and a warning signal controlled in part by said contacts.

9. Warning apparatus for automobiles, comprising two contacts, means operated by the running gear of the automobile for closing said contacts alternately, a brake device for the automobile, means controlled by said brake device when in released position for latching said contacts in the closed position,

a Warning signal controlled by said con-- the signal when the brake is released and the automobile is in motion, and lock controlled means for governing said circuit at another point to prevent operation of the signal.

11. WVarning apparatus for automobiles, comprising a warning signal, a brake device for the automobile, means constantly in operative connection with and controlled jointly by the running gear of the automobile and the brake device and tending to cause operation of the signal when the brake is released and the automobile is in motion, and lock controlled means separate and distinct from said first-mentioned means for preventing operation of said signal.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BRUNO ZABEL. Witnesses;

A. HERMAN WEGNEB,

B. L. Krswmnz. 

